The Kremlin declared Monday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s intense confrontation with former President Donald Trump at the White House proves he must be pressured into accepting a peace deal.
“What happened at the White House on Friday, of course, demonstrated how difficult it will be to reach a settlement trajectory around Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated.
“The Kyiv regime and Zelensky do not want peace. They want the war to continue.

“It is very important that someone forces Zelensky himself to change his position,” he added.
“Someone has to make Zelensky want peace. If the Europeans can do it, they should be honored and praised.”
Russia’s comments followed a heated Oval Office exchange between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelensky. Trump accused Zelensky of disrespecting the United States and warned that his stance could escalate tensions into a full-blown global conflict.
Despite the clash, Zelensky remained optimistic. On Sunday, he expressed hope for salvaging ties with Trump and reaffirmed his willingness to sign a US-Ukraine minerals deal. However, he made it clear that Ukraine would not cede any land to Russia in exchange for peace.
Meanwhile, Trump shifted focus away from Russian aggression, directing attention to what he described as America’s more pressing concerns.
“We should spend less time worrying about Putin, and more time worrying about migrant rape gangs, drug lords, murderers, and people from mental institutions entering our Country — So that we don’t end up like Europe!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Following the Oval Office dispute, European leaders quickly rallied behind Zelensky. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced at a summit in London that European nations had agreed to draft a Ukraine peace proposal to present to Washington.
The Kremlin dismissed the summit as an effort to prolong the war rather than seek peace.
“We see that… a fragmentation of the collective West has begun,” Peskov claimed.
“There remains a group of countries that rather constitutes the party of war, which declares its readiness to further back Ukraine in terms of supporting the war and ensuring the continuation of hostilities.”
Despite ongoing tensions, Moscow stated that it would maintain diplomatic communication with Washington and continue what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
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